To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much was provided by strategic health authorities in 2006-07 as funding support to trusts in financial difficulties, broken down by trust; and on what basis such funding support was given; (163361)

The information has been placed in the Library.

Figures given are:

2004-05 planned support from NHS Bank and internally generated from within the health economy

2005-06 planned support from NHS Bank and internally generated from within health economy

2006-07 Resource Account and Budgeting reversals

2006-07 loans given to national health service trusts

2006-07 additional cash limits given to primary care trusts.

From 2006-07, we have introduced greater transparency into the NHS financial system, not least by ending the practice of moving money around the NHS. We have abolished brokerage and planned support, both of which may, in the past, have masked deficits in individual organisations. Whilst in the short term this will have exposed some financial problems in the health care system, our action also means that organisations now have to address these. Strategic health authorities have no right to offer planned support any longer so there are no plans to offer those trusts in financial difficulties any further income injections.

At the end of 2006-07 NHS trusts were given back RAB income deductions made in 2006-07 as a result of overspending in 2005-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the underlying demand cost pressure on the NHS in (a) cash terms and (b) percentage terms results from achieving and sustaining the 18 week referral to treatment waiting time target. (163372)

Allocations to primary care trusts provide them with funding to deliver all local and national priorities. The cost of delivering the maximum 18 week general practitioners referral to treatment waiting target by December 2008 will depend on local decisions on how to implement this and other priorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the per capita funding of each NHS trust in England was in 2006-07; and if he will make a statement. (164567)

Revenue allocations are made directly to primary care trusts (PCTs), not national health service trusts. A table showing the funds per capita for each PCT in England for 2006-07 is available in the Library. Revenue allocations to NHS organisations in Wales are a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what he expects the underspend on the NHS to be in the North West region in the 2007-08 financial year. (165179)

At quarter 1, 2007-08, the North West strategic health authority economy is forecasting a financial year end surplus of £170 million.